Release the Muscles Behind Stubborn Pain.

IMS & Dry Needling in Abbotsford

Some muscle pain will not let go no matter how much you stretch it. IMS — intramuscular stimulation, a form of dry needling — uses fine, sterile needles to release tight, banded muscles that keep feeding pain and restricting movement. At Volt Health, IMS is delivered by physiotherapists trained in the technique, as one tool inside a complete treatment plan — never as a stand-alone gimmick.

A Targeted Tool, Used Deliberately

What IMS Actually Does

When a muscle stays chronically tight, it can develop taut, tender bands that ache locally, refer pain elsewhere, and hold joints under constant tension. IMS targets those specific bands: your physiotherapist inserts a fine needle directly into the tight tissue, which typically triggers a brief twitch or deep cramp sensation as the band releases. The aim is straightforward — reduce the tone the muscle cannot let go of on its own, so pain settles and normal movement becomes available again. IMS is always paired with the exercise and movement retraining that keeps the muscle from simply tightening back up.

IMS

Intramuscular Stimulation

Delivered by trained physiotherapists as part of your physiotherapy treatment plan — with direct billing to ICBC, WorkSafeBC, and most extended health providers.

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What IMS Can Help With

IMS is commonly used within physiotherapy treatment for:

Neck and back muscle tension — including the guarded, tight patterns that often follow whiplash and motor vehicle accidents.
Repetitive strain — desk-work and occupational overuse patterns in the neck, shoulders, and forearms.
Sport injuries — tight, overloaded muscles that limit training and slow recovery.
Stubborn tension that has not responded to stretching and soft-tissue work alone.

Whether IMS is appropriate for you is a clinical decision your physiotherapist makes after a full assessment — it is offered when it fits, not by default.

What to Expect at a Session

Your first visit is an assessment: your physiotherapist identifies which muscles are involved and whether needling is likely to help. The needling itself is brief. You may feel a quick twitch or a deep, cramping ache as a tight band releases — that sensation is the technique working, and it passes quickly. It is common to feel muscle soreness for a day or two afterwards, similar to a hard workout, followed by a looser, lighter feeling in the treated area. Your therapist pairs each session with movement and exercise so the release holds.

IMS vs. Traditional Acupuncture

The needles are similar; the frameworks are different. Traditional acupuncture is based on meridian theory from traditional Chinese medicine. IMS is a Western, anatomy-based approach: needle placement is determined by your physical assessment — which muscles are shortened, banded, and reproducing your symptoms — and by knowledge of neuromuscular anatomy. At Volt Health, IMS is practised by physiotherapists within their clinical scope, integrated with the rest of your rehabilitation.

Integrated With Your Whole Plan

Needling releases tension; it does not fix the reason the tension developed. That is why IMS at Volt Health always lives inside a broader plan — manual therapy, progressive exercise from our kinesiology team, and, where useful, registered massage therapy — all under one roof. The needle buys the window; the rehabilitation makes the change permanent.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does IMS hurt?

You will typically feel a brief twitch or deep cramping sensation when a tight band releases, and the treated muscles are often sore for a day or two afterwards — similar to post-workout soreness. Most patients find it very tolerable, and your physiotherapist adjusts the approach to you.

Is IMS the same as dry needling?

IMS (intramuscular stimulation) is a specific, assessment-driven form of dry needling. Both use fine sterile needles in muscle tissue rather than injecting anything.

Is IMS covered by my insurance?

IMS is provided within your physiotherapy sessions, which we direct bill to ICBC, WorkSafeBC, and most extended health providers.

Do I need a referral for IMS?

No — book a physiotherapy assessment directly. Your physiotherapist will determine whether IMS is appropriate as part of your treatment plan.